I loved this author's first book, but unfortunately, this one didn't do it for me. The vibes are creepy and unsettling and there is solid character development and a remarkable exploration of grief and loss, but the underlying plot was a big miss for me. If you are less concerned about a mystery having an explanation and everything tying together, you will still enjoy this book. For me, I was hooked early, but then quickly realized that this was going to be one of those books where we never really figure out what is going on in this town, and I lost a lot of my interest.

However, I love this author's dark writing style and I am still interested in reading whatever she writes next.

The desert air was stifling, making each breath more difficult than the last, but she had to keep going. This town was interesting, capturing her attention, something hidden beneath the dusty layers that was calling to her. The people here were friendly, but seemed different from others she had encountered. She’d figure this out, even if it killed her.

Where Echoes Die is a YA horror following Beck who is tracking down answers to her mom’s unfinished news story. The town she must visit had intrigued her mom for months, but there is something wrong with this town. Sinister.

This book was slow paced, but Courtney wrote in such a way that little pieces that began to unravel kept my attention throughout, even with the slower moving plot. It was a very unique take on a time travel element and I kept turning pages eager to find out what was going on. Overall an entertaining read!

If you’re looking for a queer YA horror (that isn’t scary), with a unique twist on time travel, then I’d recommend picking this one up.

This book was definitely an interesting one! I really liked the beginning. It seemed a little obvious at the beginning that something was up with the town but it wasn’t the most intriguing. I really didn’t think the story needed the relationship between Beck and Avery. It seemed forced. And towards the end, Riley just disappearing with Ricky seemed rushed. I did still get emotional at the end so it managed to do that. Overall a solid read with a few pain points.

This was my first novel by Courtney Gould and I really enjoyed it. The plot captures your attention from the very beginning and pulls you into it because you just have to know what’s going on. Short recap two sisters have lost their mother and decide to venture to the town she frequently visited to find out why but what they find when they arrive is more than they could have ever expected. This book involves lost loved ones, working your way through grief, a budding romance and learning when to let go. The twisted element of the unexplained happenings of the small town kept me wondering right up until the very end when it’s finally revealed. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read this novel but enjoy horror, mystery or a bit of sci-if this book is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy.
This book was atmospheric and filled with tense moments that were very well written. The plot was so good and the twist was a good surprise. It was a overall good young adult coming of age novel that was suspenseful and enjoyable to read.

*Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC for review.

Book points:
☀️The Twilight Zone vibes
☀️Creepy Arizona town with strange residents
☀️Past/present timelines
☀️Intriguing mystery
☀️Sci-fi/horror elements
☀️Themes of grief and loss
☀️Sister/family relationships
☀️Sapphic

I enjoyed Courtney Gould’s debut “The Dead and The Dark” so I was super excited to read her latest book. I thought “Where Echoes Die” was an intriguing ya mystery/thriller. There are some heavy topics explored in this book, including grief and trauma over the loss of a family member and emotional abuse. Be aware of trigger warnings before going into this one.

This story had sci-fi elements that I found interesting. I loved the creepy small town setting and I definitely got The Twilight Zone vibes while reading this book. I thought the main characters, Beck, Riley, and Avery were well written and compelling characters. I liked the relationship that was forming between Beck and Avery throughout the story.

I guess my only con would be the pacing, as the story was a little slow in parts. Certain chapters were told in the past and that kind of slowed down the pacing for me. Also, I thought parts of the story were a little confusing. These parts definitely had me scratching my head and I am still a little confused. 🤔

Overall, I thought this was another fun mystery/thriller by Gould that I would recommend. I look forward to Gould’s next book!

4/5 stars

I waited a good couple of years after the cover reveal for this book to be released, the mysterious small town setting with secrets to be uncovered is always something that intrigues me. This book was interesting, but I felt like there was a lot of missing details.

Beck and Riley arrive in the poorly named town of Backravel after their mother's death, Beck hoping to uncover the secrets of the town her mother dedicated so much of her life to revealing. Along the way she meets Avery, daughter of the owner of the town, and they find solace in their shared grief.

A lot felt missing, or not completed, at the end of this story. There was a big question I had about Avery that was never revealed, and the background cast of teenagers never felt like real people. I did like that the family Beck and Riley were staying with hold a big clue as to what was happening however.

The author was trying to keep the mysterious vibe by having the town feel so empty, but it really needed something to make the town feel more realistic. Beck mentions that the houses along the street feel like no-one is inside, and I would have loved a reveal when she went to check that out for herself.

Overall, I do think that Remember Me Gone wove a story about small towns and lost memories so much better, and there wasn't quite enough to make me really root for Beck and Avery as a couple. I was curious as to what their future might be, and would have liked an extra chapter showing us.

Thank you to the publisher for letting me read an e-arc of this!

The writing style, plot beats, and how the flashbacks were placed were so much fun to go through and see how things connected. Beck and Riley were really intriguing characters and I wished that there were more scenes with Riley in them instead of some of the detailing we got for the town of Backravel. I'm a sucker for the eerie atmosphere within small towns but this story was sadly not for me, and that was just due to personal reasons.

This book is like the quote from the Eagles: "We are programmed to receive. You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave." But Backravel, AZ is no Hotel California. It's weirder and mysterious, with no cars, no graveyards, and seemingly no actual past. Beck and her sister Riley head there after their mom died. Ellery Birching spent a lot of time in Backravel researching for an article she never finished. So Beck is taking up the mantel.

I love a quiet horror that creeps up on you, and boy did this book creep. Atmospheric and sinister with the thread of Beck's grief woven throughout. I also LOVE that Beck calls herself a lesbian on the page so that there is no question in the reader's mind. We need more of this clear representation, especially the messy kind.

An absolutely wow of a book and just speculative enough to keep me asking what is actually happening? Already have a shelf talker for it up in the store.

Thank you for the review copy!

Big thank you to NetGalley as well as Courtney herself for sending me this arc! (Baby’s first arc, I’m a little emotional 🥹)

This book was SO good, I got sucked in right away and it was always crushing when I had to put it down to do real world stuff. All I wanted to do was just sit down and read it in one go (and honestly probably will in the future!). I’m already a big fan of her writing style after reading TDATD, but I just cannot thank her enough for not falling into the “romantic small town” trope. Thank you for giving us the creepy, weird, little off putting bits of small towns because it’s way more realistic.

The characters were seriously great. I adored the sibling dynamic between Beck and Riley, it felt like an actual relationship I have with my own sisters where it’s not always great all the time! Sometimes it’s a little messy and confusing but that’s alright! I also felt very seen by Beck’s inability to let things go. As someone else who has a hard time letting things rest and needing to know every detail, it was so nice to read about someone with similar habits.

Anyways this review is a rambling mess, sorry not sorry. I genuinely loved it and I can’t wait for the publication date to roll around so more people can discover it.

4.5/5 stars ✨

This is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. I put it off longer than I meant to but I’m glad I came back to it. It was strange and creepy and poignant. Gould has a talent for creating atmosphere. It was stifling and oppressive and the tension only grows as the story drags in, as if you’re on this quest right along with Beck to uncover the secrets of Backravel, AZ. I don’t want to get into the details of the story because I don’t want to give away spoilers. I didn’t really understand the blurb so I felt like I was going in blind but by the second chapter I was hooked. I hope lots of people read this book and enjoy it as much as I did.

I appreciated the work by Courtney Gould for "Where Echoes Die". I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of it, and having not gotten the pleasure to read Courtney's work prior I was not disappointed. A lot of the story resonated with me, and I can't wait to get my own physical copy in the future!

Rating: 3.1 leaves out of 5
Characters: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Story: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Horror: .5/5
Genre: Horror/Mystery/Thriller/Sci-fi/LGBT/Romance
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yeah


Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to listen to this book.

For the people who know me, they know I don't like YA. I am very turned off by the genre BUT this was kind of well done. Yes, Becca has her YA moments but given what she has gone through I can't fault her for it, plus you know... her age and all. Though I usually say that writers need to stop making their characters stupid. Just because they are a teen doesn't mean they don't have freaking brains. These adult AF writers need to learn that shit real fast.

Courtney is a prime example of having a teen be a teen but have brains. Kudos. You might be asking well, if you liked it so much why is it so low rating? Well, as you can tell it is the horror part of it all. I wouldn't call this a horror. I'd call it a mystery thriller. I get the concept of it all could be scary but in the end I am not really scared at all. Also, reactions. BOY LEMME TELL YA. How she treated her sister that WHOLE time and how her sister was a WEE bit mad but MEH about it all? That isn't a normal reaction nor can it be justified. I was gravely disappointed in that whole bit. This could have been an easy 4.5 or even 5 if it hadn't have been for those two things.

In the end, is it worth? YES! If you like things like A Cure for Wellness I HIGHLY suggest this book to you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really twisty ride that had me guessing almost until the end (I picked up some things, but others? Yikes). There are horror elements, but with definitely more of a science fiction spin, so if you're into the melding of those two genres, and want a little sapphic romance in the mix for fun, this is the book for you. Unless you've recently lost someone, in which case, maybe give this one time, because it is, first and foremost, a novel about grief, and how different people cope with it.

Backravel, AZ is not your normal town. Beck realizes this as soon as she arrives, following a mysterious note from her deceased mother telling her to go to the middle-of-nowhere desert town. The more time she spends in this town, the more she needs to know its secrets and find out what really drew her mother here and why she left. It also helps that she's being pulled toward Avery, one of the town's residents.

I hate to compare this to The Dead and the Dark because aside from the author, these books are completely different. However, I LOVED The Dead and the Dark, but Where Echoes Die just didn't have the same impact on me. I didn't much care for Beck, and when what the town was all about was revealed, I wasn't that impressed as I thought it would be something with much more impact.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC, but this book just wasn't for me.

This book wasn't for me. I can see how others may like it.. especially those in the YA era. I usually enjoy YA but this one just wasn't a great fit for me!

I loved the Dead and the Dark, and was anxiously anticipating this read. While the writing itself in this book was just as strong, I found that I had a hard time connecting to the characters, and the story didn’t quite suck me in as much as this author’s previous work. I’m attributing part of that to the setting of the book and the tone that went along with it, which just isn’t quite as much to my liking. I did however see the blurb for her upcoming novel, What the Woods Took, and am very much looking forward to that.

This book does an incredible job of giving us a close-up of what that looks like. The way Beck churns and churns, trying desperately to do what she’s supposed to without actually stopping to feel or experience what she’s going through. She clings to her memories, to the way her relationship with her mother, Ellery, used to be before she died. Before that relationship was marred by absence and emptiness.

Beck tries to replace what she’s lost with her investigation of Backravel. She tries to find her mother in the tiny little frozen Desert town, where sunsets and sunrises look the same, and time seems to stop.

The revelations in the book are hard hard-won won, easter eggs dropped in the past and the present, fitting together to create the whole picture. The truth.

In the end, relationships once broken are mended or on the mend. We, the readers, have gone on a poignant, raw, and twisty ride through grief and pain and love and fear. Fear of the future and fear of the unknown. But when echoes die we have no choice but to face the unknown. The only way to move on is to move forward.

I absolutely adored the author’s debut novel, so I went into “where echoes die” with sky-high expectations and I feel like that’s entirely my fault. Granted, I don’t think it’s a terrible book by any means, but it wasn’t the book for me. After reading this book, I think I’ll simply accept the fact that books about cults aren’t for me. I did like Gould’s writing style and the atmosphere of the book. The setting was interesting – a town stuck in time and I wish we’d explored it more, somehow.

The pacing of the novel is slow and it took me a while to get into the story, since the suspense that should’ve been present throughout the story (since the book is a thriller) was absent. At no point in the book, even in the parts that were action-packed, did I ever wonder what was going to happen next. The ending, especially, was off – the conflict was resolved in a few pages and it wasn’t exactly a satisfying finale as it lean more towards sci-fi than thriller. It also left me with more questions than answers.

I also didn’t connect with the main character, Beck, at all. I found her insufferable. She drags her sister, Riley, to the middle of nowhere to chase ghosts and then ignores her and her reasonable request to leave when things get weird. Riley barely played any parts in the story, which is a shame, because she was only character I liked. Maybe if Beck had more of a character arc, but she only changed at the very end. Her actions were absurd from start to finish. The romance she has with Avery didn’t feel very organic as they didn’t have much chemistry. Perhaps this is because we spend so much time in Beck’s head, but everyone else was somewhat one-dimensional, including Avery, so I wasn’t rooting for them at all.

There were also tiny things that annoyed me at times, and I’m aware they might not bother other readers. Why was the mother’s name said so many times. It was insanely repetitive to the point it got madly annoying. Why were the girls living poorly before their mother died since the dad was portrayed as someone that was interested in their well-being. What was Riley doing when Beck was busy investigating? She was severely underused as a character and only mentioned when it moved the story forward, but completely forgotten when she didn’t have a purpose. Beck’s so adamant to stay in this town, but we’re mostly showed the negatives, so her decision to stay is baseless and I didn’t understand it.

All in all, I did like the writing style and I will probably read anything Courtney Gould publishes because I adored The dead and the dark. This one simply wasn’t my cup of tea, but I do think other readers might enjoy it.

I wanted to like this book so much. I really tried. I started out intrigued and fascinated, but the deeper I went into the book the more I wanted to stop reading it because the more I disliked it.

The issue wasn’t the plot, or even Courtney Gould’s stunning, evocative prose. It was the characters and the way they were written. See, it’s a bad sign when your protagonist is not only someone a reader can’t identify with but also genuinely thinks is a bad person. I couldn’t stand Beck, and by the end of the book I thought she was a horrible person who really should be put in jail.

They label this book paranormal fantasy, but what it’s closer to is metaphysical fantasy with a tinge of cult horror. Gould does great with the otherworldly aspects of writing metaphysical fantasy. She has a sincere talent for worldbuilding and vivid imagery. The decision to set this book in the desert helps with some of the imagery, given how much deserts remind people of mirages, air so hot it shimmers, slipping in loose dirt, and how easy it is to get lost in that environment. A desert setting is almost using subliminal messaging from the start to lay a foundation on which many other mysteries can be easily placed.

I don’t know if I’m alone in my disdain for Beck or not, but she definitely ruined the book for me. The only reason I finished the book was because I wanted to see how it ended. Given that it ended pretty much exactly how I guessed it would, I was disappointed.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All opinions, thoughts, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Due to personal policy, this review will not be posted on any social media or bookseller website owing to a rating of three stars or lower.